Patriot baseball clobbers Bears (05/24/06)

PARKER CITY — Two weeks ago the Jay County baseball team was struggling to stay at .500. If they continue on the current streak, their 20-win goal may very well be within reach.

The Patriots improved to 14-8 Tuesday, slaughtering the host Monroe Central Golden Bears 13-1.

“Attitudes seem to be a lot more positive,” said JCHS coach Lea Selvey, whose squad has won six in a row since dropping the Olympic Athletic Conference championship game to Connersville May 6. “It’s really tough when we have the depth that we do to keep everybody happy all the time. But they’ve kind of settled in and figured out once they start playing with positive attitudes things will work a lot better for them.”

Jay County will host Class 3A No. 7 Bellmont Thursday and play at South Adams Friday and Northeastern Saturday before opening play in the Class 3A Blackford sectional against Elwood Monday at 5 p.m.

The Patriots were dominant in every facet of the game against Monroe Central (6-16) with Josh Shatto leading the way on the mound.

Shatto had a perfect game through 41/3 innings before an error allowed A.J. Vore to reach base. He didn’t allow a hit until Brandon Morris led off the sixth inning with a single to left field.

The Golden Bears broke through with a run in the seventh, but Shatto still finished with a two-hitter.

“He was real tough,” said Monroe Central coach and former Portland Rocket Pete Milas. “We’ve been having a tough time just swinging the bats ... with two strikes, we’re not doing our job. (Shatto) did a good job. He kept us off balance ...”

Shatto had at least one strikeout in every inning, struck out the side after allowing the single in the sixth and finished with 13 Ks in all. He improved to 6-1 on the year and dropped his ERA to 1.19.

“(It was an) outstanding effort,” said Selvey. “He came in and really took care of business. He threw a whale of a game.”

Twelve different Patriots came up with a hit, a run or an RBI as Selvey used all of his bench after jumping out to a 6-0 lead through four innings.

Josh Ludy, who had hit four home runs in the previous week, led the way by going 2-for-2 with a double. He scored twice and drove in three runs.

Josh Atkinson found himself a batting average as he pinch-hit for Josh Selvey in the late innings. Hitless in his only two previous at-bats this year, the senior knocked a couple of singles and is now hitting .500.

He also scored a pair of runs.

Luke Goetz and Chris Elmore shared the leadoff spot, each scoring two runs apiece. Cory Locke also scored two runs, and R.J. Fuller had a pair of RBIs.

“We’ve got a lot of games this week,” said Selvey. “I just think at this stage of the game they all know they can get in and contribute a little bit. ... Down the road, you never know when someone is going to have to fill in ... hopefully that experience pays off for them.”

Cameron Stephens suffered the loss for Monroe Central as all but one of the Patriot runs was earned. He gave up 11 hits and 13 walks while striking out five.

Milas said he was pleased that his team continued to play with effort in the bottom of the seventh, working Shatto for a pair of walks and avoiding the shutout.

“When something goes bad we have to stick together,” Milas said. “Baseball is baseball, you never know what is going to happen. Playing a good team like Jay County and being young, as long as we stay in it for seven innings it’s a good sign.”[[In-content Ad]]